Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-03-19
SEiE sCrfyG GoyERNYENT.

or attempts to govern other people. in the
world. by emperoTS. kings, presidents and
bosses. The proper Ideal government is
self government. Ftve-SXths OF the Amer
lean people have nothing to do with the
laws of the land. So far aS their practical
workings OF application are concerned they
know nothing about them. aud care moth.
ing. They govern themselves. They have
no disposition Ia tranSgreSS law, and they
never do it; and the only benefit to them OF
laws which exist is that they are protected
( in their rights ami in person and property.
Society organizes itself in states and ma,
tions for the protection of its honest ciii-
zens As against turbulent and dishonest
| people. for the preservation uf the public
peace and the protection OF rights.
True popular control is the highest result
! in government that has been yet reached.
/ and this we have in the United States. and
our government is the ideal government uf
the world, in its principles and plans. Ed
uca.inn. experience and steady progress in
J intelligence and virtue. will make it an ideal
government in practice and effect. How
soon this higher result is reached will de-
pend upon the individual citizen. When
each citizen has learned to govern himself
that is. when all citizens have learned to
govern themselyes-we shall have the ideal
government. under which the TACT of gov
erning will be reduced to the minimum. the
only use for laws then being for the inStruc-
/ ton of citizens as 10 their legal rights and
I privileges.
This byings us. in the treatment of this
matter. 10 the foundation of the SyS-
ten. to fiist principles. The basal idea
OF our popular system is that the citizen
shall acquire. or be taught self-controI.
/ The man who can control aud govern him
self needs no exterior control. and the larger
number OF persons we have Of this sort in
I the country tn. less will be the expense and
effort attending administration. An ideal
/ people. brought up 10 the highest possible
condition of Intelligence and morality. would
need no government whatever.
How shall the citizen be taught self
control? The work must begin In the fam
lily ahd the school at an early age and il
must be done inteIligently and wisely. with
a. little idea of governing a. possible. The
child must not be governed. except as il
needs guidance and control in the effort 10
( instruct and lead it to govern ITSELF This
Is the wise and sensible way. and the
cheapest. The most important purpuSr in
educating is 10 teach, 10 help aud TO inspire
the son or daughter or pupil. to sncure the
mastery over himself or herself. This Is
the graRdes; result that can be reached in
teaching. for when this is reached the man
hood of the subject has been provided for
and is assured. II will come of itself.
But what a wonderful degree of aTec-
tonate consideration and patience is re-
quired, Parents and teachers have in their
care little fellows who have strong natural
passions and tendencies. which are the
motive-power that speeds them Oh in their
conduct. aud who have no knowledge a. 10
how they shall guide them. The instructor
has himself. hardly yet overcome his nat
ural tendencies, and therefore can hardly
fail 10 have a tellow-feeing for the Young
chap just starting out in lite. What this
chap needs is not Scoliing and threshing
Except IN occasional and exceptional in
stances, but friendly ard loving prrcept
and >potic>> example by wayof helping him
/" walk iii right paths and 10 walk worthily.
keeping anima. passions underfoat and
ral I. ,..Y
This is not solely in the interests of NOR
ais. II is II the physical interest of the
child or pupil. 1t is in the way OF pr"mot-
ing his success in life. Sclf-controI gives one
balance and keep, him in the best possible
working order. II enables him to do the best
thing at all times. Ia controversy. or in
sudden aud trying emergency. the man
who holds all his passions and impulses
well in hand is the man who is equal TO the
situation and reaps the advantages of the
occasion. How many men have gone down
in defeat and disgrace, from losing their
heads in time of great excitement. and
doing the worst thing instead of the best
thing. People do their children a great
unkindneSS- injustice-and q great
wrong. when they allow them to struggle
alone, unaided, undirected, against their
own passions and impulses. By neglect of
this kind, they open the way for endless
trouble to the children and to themselves.
if not to society. Bat. il at the very be-
ginning. the child is taught to overcome the
greatest possible obstacle to his happiness
aud success in life, his pathway will be
peaceful and his career easy and prosper
Gus. And a nation or community com
posed of persons 81 taught and trained has
attained a state of ideal and universal hap
p!ness.